The Kent/Sherman house was built in approximately 1853 for a daughter of Zenas Kent, an early settler in Kent, Ohio, whose son Marvin Kent gave our city its name. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of mid-19th century Greek Revival architecture in the city of Kent, Ohio. The house was bought in 1870 by Dr. Aaron M. Sherman, a prominent local physician and pharmacist who served as an Assistant Surgeon at Lincoln General Hospital in Washington, DC during the Civil War. Sherman was a founder of the First Universalist Church, now the current Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Ohio, the Portage County Medical Society and the Rockton Masonic Lodge. He also served in the Ohio General Assembly, so his importance is not just to Kent, but to the State of Ohio. This house has significant historic value and is currently being threatened by an Esplanade, a walkway connecting Kent State University with downtown Kent. It is only one of three houses left standing that is connected to the Kent family for whom our town was named. Its historic value cannot be underestimated. The house is currently owned by Kent State University with a planned demolition date of sometime in April or May 2012, so time is of the essence to save this historic home from the wrecking ball. However, the University also wants to build a visitor center along the Esplanade, and I think that an adaptive reuse of this house for that visitor center would be an excellent idea and a win-win for everyone involved. The University would have its visitor center without the additional expense of constructing a new building and the city would get to keep a landmark historical building. Please help us to save this critical piece of Kent, Ohio history. Thank you!